DONNA STRONG-Brain Injury Warrior
Donation protected
My Mother, Donna Roselli, turned heads when she walked into a room. It was not because she IS stunningly beautiful, but her all around presence just shined. Being a make-up artist for over 30 Years in the Cherry Hill area at the most exclusive Salon's, she was considered a master in her field. Adored by everyone & loved by many more.
My Mother was very simple, but very loud at the same time in her way:) Together we just enjoyed laying on the couch, eating take out, watching her favorite Life Time movies, and talking on the phone for hours (and I mean this woman could talk!) A mother-daughter relationship like no other...but on the night of March 3rd 2017 that may have changed forever.
On this cold, snowy Friday in March, my mother had a freak accident by falling down a flight of steps and cracked her skull directly on concrete. Tracking her phone calls to when she was found by a neighbor, she was left outside in the cold for over 35 minutes. A neighbor notified me that she had fell & had gotten taken to Cooper University Trauma Center, but I did not understand how bad her fall was until the Neurosurgeon came to speak with us. He said many technical things in a very short amount of time, but all I heard was "SEVERE traumatic brain injury...immediate 8 hour surgery...death...vegetable like state." As I am trying to listen to what he is saying, at this point I am still trying to process.."My Mom fell??"
After about that 8 hour long surgery, the Neurosurgeons prognosis was very grim. He did not think my Mother would survive. After day 10 we had a family meeting, and they basically wanted us to "pull the plug". However, my family and I believed we needed God to intervene and let her show up to fight too (because if anyone knows Donna Roselli...she is one tough cookie). After 2 weeks in a coma, she finally awoke but could not function at all. She was not showing any signs except for moving her eyes and occasionally repsonding to tests that are required for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) patients.
We are now a-little over 2 months out from the accident and she is in a Rehabilitation Center. She is learning how to walk, talk, and eat all over again but since her injury was so bad the process is very slow. Her speech and memory are what was impacted the most. Sometimes she knows who I am and other times she does not. Having a conversation with her is hard, because it is hard to understand what she is saying and most of the time she is not making sense. This is due to her Aphasia, which is an impairment of language, affecting the production to comprehend to read or write. Mom has the worst kind-Global Aphasia where both the receptive and expressive language skills are damaged. What I would not do for just one more hour long conversation on the phone with my Mom...I would do anything.
Moms stay at the Rehabilitation Center many be ending shortly. After she gets home she will continue to need extensive therapy to get her back to the Donna we all know and love. Being that she is a Medicaid patient, there are many things that will not be covered.
I am starting this fund in honor of my Mom, and trying to make her transition home (whenever that will be, be as comfortable as possible. All proceeds will be donated to her after care. I need her to continue to get the therapy she needs in order for me to get my Mom back.
On behalf of my family, my mother, and I...I thank you for all the continued prayers and support. Please help donate to one of the most beautiful woman that is alive..MY MOMMY!!
*********************** DONNA STRONG ***************
My Mother was very simple, but very loud at the same time in her way:) Together we just enjoyed laying on the couch, eating take out, watching her favorite Life Time movies, and talking on the phone for hours (and I mean this woman could talk!) A mother-daughter relationship like no other...but on the night of March 3rd 2017 that may have changed forever.
On this cold, snowy Friday in March, my mother had a freak accident by falling down a flight of steps and cracked her skull directly on concrete. Tracking her phone calls to when she was found by a neighbor, she was left outside in the cold for over 35 minutes. A neighbor notified me that she had fell & had gotten taken to Cooper University Trauma Center, but I did not understand how bad her fall was until the Neurosurgeon came to speak with us. He said many technical things in a very short amount of time, but all I heard was "SEVERE traumatic brain injury...immediate 8 hour surgery...death...vegetable like state." As I am trying to listen to what he is saying, at this point I am still trying to process.."My Mom fell??"
After about that 8 hour long surgery, the Neurosurgeons prognosis was very grim. He did not think my Mother would survive. After day 10 we had a family meeting, and they basically wanted us to "pull the plug". However, my family and I believed we needed God to intervene and let her show up to fight too (because if anyone knows Donna Roselli...she is one tough cookie). After 2 weeks in a coma, she finally awoke but could not function at all. She was not showing any signs except for moving her eyes and occasionally repsonding to tests that are required for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) patients.
We are now a-little over 2 months out from the accident and she is in a Rehabilitation Center. She is learning how to walk, talk, and eat all over again but since her injury was so bad the process is very slow. Her speech and memory are what was impacted the most. Sometimes she knows who I am and other times she does not. Having a conversation with her is hard, because it is hard to understand what she is saying and most of the time she is not making sense. This is due to her Aphasia, which is an impairment of language, affecting the production to comprehend to read or write. Mom has the worst kind-Global Aphasia where both the receptive and expressive language skills are damaged. What I would not do for just one more hour long conversation on the phone with my Mom...I would do anything.
Moms stay at the Rehabilitation Center many be ending shortly. After she gets home she will continue to need extensive therapy to get her back to the Donna we all know and love. Being that she is a Medicaid patient, there are many things that will not be covered.
I am starting this fund in honor of my Mom, and trying to make her transition home (whenever that will be, be as comfortable as possible. All proceeds will be donated to her after care. I need her to continue to get the therapy she needs in order for me to get my Mom back.
On behalf of my family, my mother, and I...I thank you for all the continued prayers and support. Please help donate to one of the most beautiful woman that is alive..MY MOMMY!!
*********************** DONNA STRONG ***************
Organizer
Lauren Nicole
Organizer
Marlton, NJ